Kori Muhammad trial: Death penalty off the table for mass shooter. Here’s why
Kori Ali Muhammad, who went on a deadly shooting spree in downtown Fresno in 2017, is no longer facing the death penalty.
Instead, he will face life in prison without parole, said his attorney, Richard Beshwate Jr. Friday.
Muhammad was convicted earlier this week of killing four men – three outside of Catholic Charities on April 18 in downtown Fresno, and a security guard at a Motel 6 in central Fresno five days earlier.
Muhammad withdrew his not guilty by reason of insanity plea and the District Attorney’s Office decided not to seek the death penalty, an agreement that was finalized during a Friday hearing.
Muhammad is scheduled to appear for his sentencing hearing May 22.
“Ultimately, he was looking at life term. This way, he went out on his own terms,” Beshwate said. “Our goal in a case like this is to avoid the death penalty if we can, so we’re satisfied.”
Since most of the charges were determined not to be premeditated, it likely could have been more difficult to get the death penalty, he said.
A message left at the District Attorney’s Office was not immediately returned.
Muhammad was convicted of first degree murder in the death of David Jackson, 58, who was fatally shot on April 18, 2017 outside of Catholic Charities on Fulton Street. Muhammad’s two other victims that day were Mark Gassett, 37, and 34-year-old Zackary Randalls.
He was found guilty of second degree murder for the killing of security guard Carl Williams III, 25, at a Motel 6 in central Fresno five days earlier.
The jury also found him guilty of four counts of attempted murder, discharging a gun into a home, and being a felon in possession of gun.
Throughout his trial, Muhammad never denied killing the men.
He told police in an interview that he was angry about feeling disrespected because he was black and vowed to take out his revenge on white men.
